First Boat - New Family - Need some advice

[guinessmstr45]

Expecting our first child, recently moved to NJ on the water, and looking for something with longevity that we can take out in the ocean, mostly for entertaining, a little fishing, and overnights w/ the kid - have had my eye on an 09 Glastron GS289 w/ low hours, warranty, etc - and am looking for feedback on that type of boat - how does she do in the near-shore trips, and maybe a few across the water to long island, or down to atlantic city. I'm somewhat new to boating as well, am taking all the courses to re-familiarize myself w/ the ins and outs - but wondering how everyone likes a cruiser on the ocean (and inlet/bay, etc) - and how realistic it is to take overnights (seems very doable, with the beds, shower, etc).

Thanks in advance - also, any opinions on Glastron would be great as well!

 

[agallant80]

A boat like that will do OK in open water but it won't be as good as a walk around of the same size due to the deadrise. With that said, I am not trying to be Debbie Downer but a boat is a huge commitment of time and money. With a new family it may be more than you want to deal with right now. I would give it at least a year. Also there is a huge TCO of boating. I have a similar size boat, 25 feet and mine is a 2013, below are my numbers if they help.

Yearly Payments @600/mo = $7200
Yearly Bottom paint $600
Yearly Insurance $600
Fuel (3 fills per month for 6 months 140 a fill) $2500
Yearly maintance $500 but I do it all my self
Docking @$250/mo (this is NC, NJ will be much more costly) $3000
Seatow $160

Yearly Spent........$14,560

If I can use the boat every weekend for 6 months that is still $606 a weekend. I am just saying this sue to the large amounts of boats I see in the marinas and storage lots that never move. You could have a lower TCO depending on how much you pay for it and if you slip it or leave it on a trailer which is questionable with a boat that size. Someone on this sight once said to me when I got my boat, first you will trailer it, then you will move it closer to the ocean then you will just end up slipping it. He was right. Large boats are much easier used when in a slip.

 

[guinessmstr45]

Thanks agallant80 for the response - agreed that the TCO on a boat is brutal - but it's a cash buy, and my town slip costs will be in your range (along w/ insurance, etc) - so i get the financials around it. Was asking more along the lines of it's sea-worthiness - how it would hold up (or any cruiser that size) outside of the bay. The reason i'm looking to pull the trigger now vs. later is that it's a great buy, will give me a year to get some hours under my belt before venturing out w/ the whole crew - and will have a nice area for kids to hang in below deck (and overnights, etc). Just really hoping i'm not bound to the bay and inlets with this vessel...

 

[agallant80]

Boats like that are better for large lakes, bays or the ICW. Once out in the open warer 3 foot swells will not make for a comfortable ride.

 

[guinessmstr45]

agreed on the 3 foot swell piece - obviously i'll keep away from poor weather as possible and head out on flat/1 ft days - think that would be fine?

 

[agallant80]

The nice things about boats with that hull design is when the water is calm you can cruse at 35MPH like youa re floating on glass

 

[guinessmstr45]

yeah, i believe it's a a VEC hull - which i've heard good things about - either way, thanks for the response!

 

[tpenfield]

Welcome to iBoats . . . I saw your other thread as well. Maybe the mods will merge the threads since they are essentially the same.

The Glastron Cruiser will be OK as will a lot of other brands. So not a stand-out, and not a lagger. It will be a matter of how well the boat has been maintained so you are not fighting with maintenance items.

I started out with a 24 foot Formula then graduated to a 33 footer. It does the over night thing well and is not afraid of the ocean. A 29 foot cruiser certainly will be fine for what you described. Just be sure to do the boating safety courses and take thing slow until you get used to it.

My experience with TCO is about $4-5K per year, depending on what breaks.

Do you own a place on the NJ shore with a boat slip?